Photoelectrochemical analysis of shape modified γ- phase In2Se3 nanostructures photoelectrodes

Abstract Controlled synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials with various morphologies and shape is essential to the development of nanomaterials based functional devices. Herein, γ-In2Se3 nanostructures such as nanoparticles, nanocubes and clustered nanoflakes have been successfully synthesized via hot injection method with oleylamine (OLAM)/oleic acid (OA)/1-octadecene (1-ODE). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy have been employed to characterize the microstructural and optical properties of γ-In2Se3 nanoparticles, nanocubes, and clustered nanoflakes. Mott-Schottky analysis revealed that γ-In2Se3 nanoflakes show higher carrier density compared to that of nanoparticles and nanocubes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis (Nyquist and Bode plots) were used to understand the charge-transfer kinetics of γ-In2Se3. It was found that the γ-In2Se3 clustered nanoflakes had superior photoelectrochemical activity over nanocubes and nanoparticles, which is attributed to stronger absorption properties and specific clustered morphology. The results highlight that γ-In2Se3 clustered nanoflakes could be a promising candidate as photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications.